[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 10 October 2015: the Bribery Case

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Once again Vanuatu's judicial and legal systems and the separation of powers as required by the Constitution (which we were celebrating earlier this week) have proven themselves and the efficacy of the Westminster System we employ here. Fourteen Members o" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 10 October 2015: the Bribery Case by bobmakin Once again Vanuatu's judicial and legal systems and the separation of powers as required by the Constitution (which we were celebrating earlier this week) have proven themselves and the efficacy of the Westminster System we employ here. Fourteen Members of Parliament have been found guilty of the criminal charge of bribery and will be sentenced on 22 October. There were 112 items in evidence and 39 witnesses. Those found guilty included many of cabinet status and are Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil (seemingly the ring leader), Speaker of Parliament Marcellino Pipite, Minister Serge Vohor, Minister Paul Telukluk, Silas Rouard Yatan, Tony Nari, John Amos, Arnold Prasad, Steven Kalsakau, Tony Wright, Sebastien Harry, Thomas Laken, Jonas James and Jean Yves Chabot. They were convicted as charged. Huge crowds surrounded the Dumbea court house orecincts and were splendidly managed by the Police. The Correctional Services were on hand to advise concerning prisoner accommodation although sentencing will only take place on 22 October. Presumably bail conditions apply still. The Constitutional case brought by MPs Tony Nari, John Amos, Sebastien Harry Thomas Laken, Paul Barthelemy Telukluk, Steven Kalsakau and Marcellino Pipite against the State can be read already at paclii.org on the internet. This has played a part in reducing the Bribery Case to matters and questions punishable under the Penal Code. It is hoped Justice Sey's complete and very detailed judgement will be similarly available on-line in the very near future. Never-the-less Radio Vanuatu and Daily Post have covered yesterday's case in some detail today. For those wanting the specifics of the judgement earliest it is recommended they purchase Daily Post early today, as supplies of the paper with the headline 14 GUILTY may well not prove adequate. There is certainly plenty to read this weekend. Gud wiken, safe in the knowledge that Vanuatu does have a fearless, effective and responsible judiciary. bobmakin | October 10, 2015 at 10:11 am | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ef Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1P4OuOP Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 9 October 2015

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Justice Fatiaki's concerns yesterday in the Constitutional case concerning bribery stem from the Ombudsman's Special Preliminary Report in the matter. Justice Fatiaki stated that the Constitutional Case applicants were not given the "opportunity to r" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 9 October 2015 by bobmakin Justice Fatiaki's concerns yesterday in the Constitutional case concerning bribery stem from the Ombudsman's Special Preliminary Report in the matter. Justice Fatiaki stated that the Constitutional Case applicants were not given the "opportunity to reply to the complaints made against them under the Act." He therefore declared the Ombudsman Preliminary Report null and void. Justice Mary Sey hearing the Bribery Case was expected by Justice Fatiaki to have more to say on this matter today. The full report is carried by Daily Post on its front page today. Post also speaks of increased security in Port Vila today, the judgement in the Bribery Case being given this afternoon at 2 pm. Central School, adjacent to the Dumbea court house is closed for the day Radio Vanuatu informed the general public. The Prime Minister's Office is understood to have requested the Malvatumauri membership to ensure the safety of their people and properties. Transparency Vanuatu is calling on the government to strengthen the Public Accounts Committee. The PAC has been unable to perform because the government has not appointed its members to the Committee as yet. Reports of the PAC in April, on government and statutory body finances, were damning and Transparency's Chairman, Dr Willie Tokon, is appealing to the government to empower the PAC. (Daily Post) The Secretary General of the Citizenship Commission, John Enock Ware, is seriously questioning the whereabouts of some VT 540 million allegedly brought to the country by the Vanuatu Registry Services (VRS) company. Ware says this cannot be verified in bank records. Ware says the CIIP is formally closed and the Vanuatu Economic Rehabilitation Program (VERP) has taken its place. The State Law Office is preparing amendments to the Citizenship Act to give effect to the Real Estate Option to go before the next Parliament. The Airports Vanuatu Limited staff branch of the National Workers Union questions the composition of the Board of AVL. Composition of the Board differs from what is legally prescribed says the Union. A strike notice of the company remains in force. bobmakin | October 9, 2015 at 9:47 am | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ee Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1G0LwYX Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Correction: Time of Bribery Case Judgement

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Judgement in this matter is at 2 pm tomorrow, not tomorrow morning as stated an hour ago." Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Correction: Time of Bribery Case Judgement by bobmakin Judgement in this matter is at 2 pm tomorrow, not tomorrow morning as stated an hour ago. bobmakin | October 8, 2015 at 5:22 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ed Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1ZeU7NU Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 8 October 2015 – Judgement tomorrow

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Before Justice Mary Sey began hearing oral submissions in the Bribery Case this morning, Justice Daniel Fatiaki gave his decisions regarding the Constitutionality of the Leadership Code Section 21, dealing with acceptance of loans. He was adamant that lea" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 8 October 2015 – Judgement tomorrow by bobmakin Before Justice Mary Sey began hearing oral submissions in the Bribery Case this morning, Justice Daniel Fatiaki gave his decisions regarding the Constitutionality of the Leadership Code Section 21, dealing with acceptance of loans. He was adamant that leaders' rights and freedoms are not over-ruled by the provision that a leader must not accept a loan other than on commercial terms from a recognised lending institution and only if the leader satisfies the lending institution's usual business criteria. He was also un-wavering on the provision being Constitutional. He had further comments on the Ombudsman's "pivotal role" in the administration of the Leadership Code. These were shared with counsel and those in the Supreme Court and subsequently distributed in written form and Daily Post will carry his decision in more detail tomorrow. After the Constitutional hearing, Justice Sey took the last oral submissions in the Bribery Case from Messrs John Malcolm and Nigel Morrison. John Malcolm was certain bribery had not been proven and that too much emphasis had been given to the Prosecution's use of statements from those persons granted immunity which continually suggested guilt and therefore requiring the persons implicated to keep proving their innocence. For Nigel Morrison questions relating to whether the Greens' GCT agency is a lending institution or simply a trustee and not requiring a business licence were raised. He felt evidence given by MP Robert Bohn was largely ignored by the Prosecution's report. Judgement in Vanuatu's most important corruption case will be given tomorrow morning in the Supreme Court. bobmakin | October 8, 2015 at 4:07 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ec Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1VG4khN Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | PANG on Trade Justice for island states

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "MEDIA RELEASE: TRADE JUSTICE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND NATIONS 06th of October, 2015. Civil society groups from Australia and the Pacific are concerned about the rush to conclude talks on the regional free trade agreement known as PACER-Plus. The Australian F" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | PANG on Trade Justice for island states by bobmakin MEDIA RELEASE: TRADE JUSTICE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND NATIONS 06th of October, 2015. Civil society groups from Australia and the Pacific are concerned about the rush to conclude talks on the regional free trade agreement known as PACER-Plus. The Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET), Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Friends of the Earth, and Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) are holding a rally to coincide with the latest round of talks in Melbourne to call for trade justice for Pacific Islanders. Kate Lee, Executive Officer of Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA commented that “Australia and New Zealand have a great deal of influence in the region because of their much greater size, wealth and position as aid donors. We are concerned that any agreement will suit the interests of Australia and New Zealand at the expense of the Pacific Island countries. Any agreement must ensure Pacific-centred development that ensures rights for workers, protection of the environment and culture, and respect for human rights.” PACER-Plus talks were controversially launched in 2009 and are considered the most important trade agreement that the Pacific will negotiate in a decade. The talks are unique in their inclusion of Labour Mobility and Development Assistance in the negotiations. Ged Kearney, the President of the ACTU added that “we have supported the Seasonal Worker Program because it is a well-regulated program where the workers that come to Australia have to be employed appropriately, they have to be paid appropriate wages, and they have to have an understanding of their rights. We would like to see that the PACER Plus negotiations continue that situation. We don't want a lessening of the regulation around the program, to ensure that those workers who come here are not going to be subject to exploitation when they arrive.” Pat Ranald from the AFTINET stated that “the threat of rising sea levels from climate change is more urgent than a free trade agreement, and Australia should heed the calls of Pacific Islanders to take a lead in reducing carbon emissions.” There are concerns for what the outcome of PACER-Plus will mean for Pacific livelihoods, government revenue, access to essential services and ability to determine their own development. Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA, AFTINET, the Pacific Network for Globalisation (PANG), Friends of the Earth, and the ACTU are calling for the immediate suspension of the negotiations, the release of the negotiating texts to undertake a human rights impact assessment and respect for the rights of Pacific workers. The rally will take place at 12:00 noon, Wednesday 7th October, outside the Hotel Grand Chancellor 131 Lonsdale St, Melbourne. Ends// bobmakin | October 7, 2015 at 1:52 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Eb Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1FW4yiX Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | ULMWP support from Tonga & Solo at UN

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "UNITED LIBERATION MOVEMENT FOR WEST PAPUA (ULMWP) MEDIA STATEMENT 07th of October, 2015 ULMWP acknowledges Pacific leaders for supporting West Papua aspirations at the United Nations (UN). The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has comm" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | ULMWP support from Tonga & Solo at UN by bobmakin UNITED LIBERATION MOVEMENT FOR WEST PAPUA (ULMWP) MEDIA STATEMENT 07th of October, 2015 ULMWP acknowledges Pacific leaders for supporting West Papua aspirations at the United Nations (UN). The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has commended the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Hon. Akilisi Pohiva, and the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, for supporting West Papua at the recent 70th United Nations General Assembly in New York. ULMWP spokesperson, Benny Wenda, expressed his deepest gratitude to the Pacific leaders and their people, saying, “on behalf of the people of West Papua, we the United Liberation Movement for West Papua would like to convey all our deepest and most sincere gratitude to our Pacific leaders for being the sole moral voices on West Papua at the United Nations.” “We the people of West Papua listened to your historic speeches at the UN, which have brought great hope, emotion and positivity, which has displayed true Pacific solidarity for our people...we always feel a strong and unbreakable connection to our fellow Pacific family, and the bold statements by both prime ministers from the Pacific have confirmed real Pacific solidarity.” Wenda said the lead taken by Tonga and the Solomon Islands is promising, and is calling on other Pacific leaders to support the call by our Pacific leaders to hold talks with Indonesia for a fact finding mission to West Papua. “We acknowledge and thank our Pacific leaders and people for assisting us to be recognized at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). The tremendous support has taken the issue of West Papua to the agenda of the PIF leaders, and we welcome the call for a fact finding mission and will work closely with our Pacific leaders on this mission.” The ULMWP recognize the support of PIF leaders and note other significant historical efforts by Pacific Island nations notably Vanuatu, Nauru and Tuvalu to support the right to self determination of West Papua at the United Nations and regionally. Indonesia in its right to reply to both Tonga and the Solomon Islands at the UNGA strongly rejects the references to human rights issues in West Papua and have labelled them dangerously misleading. While Indonesia denied these human right abuses, violations continued in Papua. At 7:00pm on the 28th of September, two high school students were shot at the market in Timika town. One of the student died the other on was taken to hospital. Wenda added that contradiction between official denial and reality indeed calls for a fact finding mission as requested by the both Prime Ministers. “We support the PIF leaders’ decision for an independent fact finding mission as the only way to verify independently the human rights situation on the ground. We urge the UN to support PIFL to set up a human rights fact finding mission.” Since the Prime Ministers Pohiva and Sogavare respective addresses at the UN, there have been jubilant responses and positivity from West Papuans globally despite the ongoing military assault on West Papuan including the most recent death of two youths. “We desperately need the help of our Pacific family for the people of West Papua continue to suffer under the illegal Indonesian occupation.” The human rights situation is deteriorating and it is estimated that over 500,000 West Papuan people have been killed ever since the territory was occupied in 1961. Ends// bobmakin | October 7, 2015 at 1:49 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ea Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1GvxJ7A Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Ban Ki-moon on the Forum & Climate Change

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Ban Ki-moon says the Pacific Islands Forum Declaration on Climate Change Action rightly emphasized the need for global responsibility Remarks at Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Headquarters, 01 October 2015 Thank you very much," Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Ban Ki-moon on the Forum & Climate Change by bobmakin Ban Ki-moon says the Pacific Islands Forum Declaration on Climate Change Action rightly emphasized the need for global responsibility Remarks at Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Headquarters, 01 October 2015 Thank you very much, Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato of Papua New Guinea, for your able leadership as the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum. The PIF is crucial to realizing our global vision for a sustainable future. This year we have agreed on key global policies – on disaster risk reduction, on financing for development, and now on the Sustainable Development Goals. All of these will boost our work on the SAMOA Pathway for small island developing States. Now we need action on climate change, which has a severe impact on the Pacific region. You speak for the most vulnerable. That is why I am counting on you to raise your voices to build political momentum to resolve outstanding issues. The PIF Declaration on Climate Change Action rightly emphasized the need for global responsibility. Now we must do even more. I will continue to call on major economies to raise their level of ambition. And I will press for priority attention to the needs of small island developing States and least developed countries. I vividly remember my visit to Samoa last year. I went to Lepa to witness the damage from the 2009 tsunami. It was a powerful reminder of how badly small islands are hit by extreme weather events. And it was a sober lesson on how urgently we need to invest in climate change adaptation and mitigation. The dangers continue. This year, El Nino has caused strong droughts and cyclones in the Pacific. Your countries need finance. I have been doing everything possible to ensure that the Green Climate Fund is capitalized and operationalized. It must be up and running before the Paris Conference – with projects and funding ready to go, especially for the most vulnerable. The UN is also ready to support your region in achieving sustainable development and climate resilience. The Paris Conference will represent an important turning point – not an end point – for global climate action. I am hopeful that countries will finalize a new universal and meaningful climate change agreement. This is possible – but it will take clear guidance and firm leadership from heads of State and government. The global goals will help promote peaceful and inclusive societies. That will improve justice, accountability and security while protecting people and ecosystems. We all welcomed the strong SDG on gender equality. This year also marks the 15 year review of Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. I have been doing everything possible to champion women’s equality and to empower women across the United Nations. I thank those of you who are with me in this fight. I was heartened by last week’s meeting on gender equality and women’s empowerment, where leaders agreed to close the gender gap. There has been progress across the Pacific – but we still have to help women who are threatened by violence. We have to do more to involve women in politics. And we have to make women’s rights a reality everywhere. The United Nations stands together with the countries and all peoples of the Pacific. Your region is known for being on the frontlines of climate change – and I thank you for being at the forefront of positive change for our world. Thank you. UN News Centre, 6 October, 2015 bobmakin | October 6, 2015 at 1:16 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-E9 Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1L3ml4H Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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